Picture Books where the Setting is a Character
This is a curated list of recently published picture books where the setting is a character. Having a non-traditional protagonist is a fun and unique way to tell a story. Explore different settings and story telling techniques with these picture books.
Tokyo Night Parade
Tokyo comes alive on the night of the yokai parade, as Eka marches with lantern-lit ghosts and demons through a city she may not see again for a long time.
The Tree and the River
In this wordless epic, a single tree and an enduring river silently witness civilizations rise and fall around them across the ages.
Farmhouse
Sophie Blackall pays tribute to a real farmhouse and the big family who grew up inside it, with art built from scraps she rescued from its walls.
Little Houses
On a beach visit with her grandparents, a girl gathers seashells and wonders about the creatures who once called these little houses home.
Time for Bed, Old House
Nervous about his first sleepover, Isaac helps Grandpop put the creaky old house to bed, room by room, until the night sounds feel friendly.
The Little Blue Cottage
A seaside cottage waits all year for the girl who loves it, in a tender story about a favorite place and the summers that shape us.
The Blue House
When their beloved old rental is sold to be torn down, Leo and his dad rage, dance, and find a way to carry its memory into their new home.
Julia’s House Moves On
Julia’s restless house, perched on a giant turtle, sets off on a wild journey with all its magical creatures aboard, and Julia must learn to let go of her plans.
The Noisy Classroom
A soon-to-be third grader dreads landing in the singing, chattering classroom down the hall, until she discovers that noisy can also mean fun.
Southwest Sunrise
Jayden expects nothing but brown in his new New Mexico home, until a morning walk reveals bright flowers, red rocks, and turquoise sky.
Swashby and the Sea
Grumpy Captain Swashby writes “GO AWAY” notes in the sand to his new neighbors, but the sea, his oldest friend, keeps rewriting them into invitations.
Home Is a Window
In this lyrical story of a family’s move, home turns out to be something you carry with you: the people, the meals, and the love that come along to the new house.
Hello Lighthouse
This Caldecott Medal winner follows a steadfast lighthouse and its final keeper’s family through changing seasons at the edge of the sea.
Ocean Meets Sky
To honor his late grandfather, Finn builds a boat and sails off in search of the magical place from Grandpa’s stories, where the ocean meets the sky.
Sam and Dave Dig a Hole
Two boys dig for something spectacular, while the ground beneath them keeps a few sly secrets that only readers can see.
The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore
Swept away by a storm, Morris Lessmore finds a magical library where the books flutter, breathe, and come alive in his care.
All the World
From beach to farm stand to a cozy home in a storm, this Caldecott Honor book celebrates the whole wide world and everyone in it.
The Curious Garden
When a boy tends a few struggling plants on an abandoned railway, the garden grows curious and spreads until it transforms his gray city.
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